Amerton Railway

About the museum

The Amerton Railway grew out of a society that restored the narrow-gauge steam locomotive Isabel, built in Stafford in 1897, and needed a place to run her. An agreement was reached with Amerton Farm at Stowe-by-Chartley, and the Mayor of Stafford cut the first sod on 26 May 1990. A small team of volunteers built the station area and a first quarter mile of line, using rails and sleepers collected from closed collieries and other sources.

The first fare-paying train, hauled by Isabel with one coach, ran on 19 July 1992, and the railway was officially opened on 27 March 1993. After a new landlord at the farm offered a longer lease in 1997, a new route was surveyed that completed a closed circuit of almost one mile. The Chartley Road loop opened in 2000, and in 2001 the first train ran the full circuit. The railway also acquired the Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway signal box from Waterhouses station in 2001. A carriage shed followed in 2002 and a new workshop in 2006, and in 2012 the railway bought the land it runs on.

Today it is an independent charity that is run entirely by volunteers and was awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. Its collection is themed around Staffordshire and includes industrial steam and diesel locomotives by makers such as Bagnall, Kerr Stuart, Hunslet and Ruston, carriages from the 1930s and wagons from the former RAF Fauld munitions depot.

Highlights

• One-mile, two-foot gauge circuit through Staffordshire farmland
• Isabel, a steam locomotive built in Stafford in 1897
• Industrial steam and diesel locomotives by Bagnall, Kerr Stuart, Hunslet and Ruston
• Picnic area at Chartley Halt included in the ticket
• Santa Specials in December

Permanent exhibitions

• Staffordshire narrow-gauge locomotives and rolling stock – Steam and diesel locomotives, 1930s passenger carriages and wagons from the RAF Fauld depot, with a collection themed around Staffordshire.
• Waterhouses signal box – A restored signal box from the Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway, acquired in 2001.

Operated by

Staffordshire Narrow Gauge Railway Limited

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Parking and the station area have mixed gravel, stone, tarmac and grass surfaces, and the platform is flat and hard-surfaced. Toilets and catering at neighbouring Amerton Farm have wheelchair access. Coach 5 can take two wheelchairs using a ramp and is used on steam days (Sundays and Bank Holidays); on diesel days a wheelchair place can be arranged on request, and disabled access is available on all Sunday services. Some powered wheelchairs may be too large to load. The running shed has an uneven floor with raised rails and is not safe for visitors with mobility problems.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Family events include an Easter egg hunt, Pirates and Princesses, Teddy Bear Days in August, Trick or Treat in costume and the Santa Specials, where children meet Santa in Toyland and receive a gift. Colouring sheets, a board game and a word search can be downloaded from the website.

Getting there & parking

The railway is 6 miles north-east of Stafford on the A518 between Stafford and Uttoxeter, to the right of the Butchers and Craft Centre in the Amerton Farm car park, and is signposted by brown tourism signs. The sat nav postcode is ST18 0LA.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The ticket office shop sells gifts and is open 11:30 to 16:30 on running days. Toilets, a tea room and an ice cream parlour are at the neighbouring Amerton Farm, which is a separate business; visitors can bring food to the picnic area at Chartley Halt.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit